"I pay attention," he said simply.
Something about those three words made my stomach flutter.
The sun climbed higher as we moved deeper into mapinguari territory. The path narrowed, forcing me to walk behind Redmon. I couldn't help studying him, the broad expanse of his back, the strange way his reddish fur caught the sunlight filtering through the canopy.
We passed several mapinguari settlements, clusters of structures woven into the natural landscape so seamlessly they were nearly invisible until we were upon them. Each time, the inhabitants stopped to stare, conversations halting as their gazes locked on me.
"They're not used to seeing humans here, are they?" I whispered when we'd passed the third such settlement.
"No humans come this deep." Redmon didn't turn back to look at me. "Except you now."
A mapinguari female emerged from one dwelling, her single eye narrowing as she assessed me. Unlike Redmon, whose fur was a deep rust color, hers was almost black. She said something in their language, all growls and clicks I couldn't understand.
Redmon responded sharply, his posture stiffening. The female backed away.
"What did she say?" I quickened my pace to walk beside him where the path widened.
"Nothing important."
"It didn't sound like nothing."
"She questioned my choice." His jaw tightened. "Asked if I'd lost my mind, taking a human mate."
My cheeks burned. "And what did you tell her?"
"To mind her business."
We walked in silence for several minutes. This mating arrangement hadn't been our choices. A peace treaty between our peoples, sealed with our union. A sacrifice we'd both made.
At least that's what I told myself whenever I caught him watching me with that unreadable expression.
During a brief rest beside a small stream, I gathered my courage. "Tell me about your customs," I said, watching him drink from cupped hands. "I know almost nothing about mapinguari ways."
Redmon wiped his mouth, water droplets clinging to the fur around his lips. "What do you want to know?"
"Anything. Everything." I shrugged, trying to appear casual. "If I'm to be your mate shouldn't I understand your people?"
He was quiet for so long I thought he might not answer. "Our customs are old. Complex."
"I'm a quick learner."
His eye studied me, seeming to weigh something. "Mating is usually for life. What happened between us with the ceremony is not how things are normally done."
"Yes, I gathered that much from the disapproving looks I keep getting." I pulled a piece of dried fruit from my pack, chewing it slowly. "Do mapinguari usually have multiple mates?"
"No," he answered quickly. "One. Only one."
"Oh." I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware we were discussing our marriage, or whatever their equivalent was.
"That bothers you?" His head tilted slightly.
"No, I just... in my terramares, I was promised to someone else." The words slipped out before I could stop them.
"The treaty changed that."
"Yes. It did." I stood, brushing off my pants. "Should we continue?"
He nodded, but I noticed how his gaze lingered on me longer than necessary.
